Rudder



Sept. 15, 1931. E. VAN NOTE RUDDEH Filed Feb. 19, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet lJ INVENTOR ATTO EY Sept. 15, 1931. E. VAN NOTE RUDDER Filed Feb. 19,1930 2 Sheets-Shea? 2 NVE TOR W 1 I gmggigjw Patented Sept. 15, 1931ourro STATES PATENT OFFICE EUGENE VAN NOTE, F JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEYRUDDER 4 Application filed February 19, 1930. Serial No. 429,503.

This invention relates primarily to means for steering aeroplanes butits principles may be applied to other vehicles.

A principal object of the invention is to provide means for steeringaeroplanes so as to control the1r movement in any d1rection.

Another principal object is to maintain the rudders in such manner as toinsure their non-resistance to wind when not influenced by the steeringcontrols.

Another object is to enable the operator of the machine to manipulatethe steering mechanism without unduly taking his attention away from theother controls of the machine.

Other objects will be apparent from reading this specification inconjunction withthe accompanying drawings.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a side view of an aeroplane embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional enlargement of the same;

, Figure 3 is a plan view of Figure 1 looking at the same from the top;and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional View of Figure 3 showing part of theoperating "mechanism of the-horizontal rudder.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, 5 represents the fuselage of anaeroplane, 6 the cab, 7 the operators seat, 8, 8 the vertical rudders,and 9 the horizontal rudder, 10 the propeller,,1l the wings, and 12 thelanding gear.

The vertical rudders 8, 8 are arranged parallel to each other and aremounted to swing on the vertical rods 13, 13 supported in the body ofthe aeroplane. These vertical rudders are connected to each other by thepivotal links 14, 14, in such manner as not to interfere with the freearcuate movement of the same so as to constantly maintain asubstantially parallel position to each other. These vertical rudders 8,8 are preferably mounted on the rods 13, 13, oil their vertical centersso as to dispose the longer sides of the rudders toward the rear, thustending to hold said rudders in a normally parallel position with thefuselage when the aeroplane is in operation and when unin fluenced bymanipulation of the steering wheel 21. 1

A pulley 16 is provided on whichis mounted to move therewith a bracket15, pivoted to the outer end of which are the links 18,18, which linksare in turn pivoted to the respective blades of the rudder 8, 8. Locatedin the cab 6 is the steering post 20 on which is integrally mounted atthe upper end the steering wheel 21 and at the V lower end the pulley22. A cable 23 extends over and connects the pulleys 16 and 22 so as toprovide operative connection between the steering wheel 21 and thevertical rudders 8, 8.

The horizontal rudder 9 is also preferably mounted oil center, thebalance of weight being at the rear. This horizontal rudder is adaptedto move with the horizontal rod A bellcrank 24 is V the handle 34, andthe rudder 9 may be maintained in any desired position by thecooperation of the quadrant 35 with the pawl 36 controlled by thehandpiece 37.

In operation, both the vertical rudders I and the horizontal rudder whennot influenced by'the controls in the cab are normally maintained in asubstantially parallel position with the fuselage of the plane and oiferlittle resistance to wind when the plane is in motion. If it is desiredto change the horizontal direction of the plane, the steeringwheel 21 ismanipulated by the operator,

which action will control the movement of.

the cable 23, which in turn operates on the pulley 16, through it thebracket 15, the links 18 and the blades of the vertical rudder 8, 8.When a banking movement or a vertical movement is desired, the operatorWill manipulate the lever 33 Which changes the position of the equalizerbar 30 and pulls at the appropriate end of the cable 29 which in turnoperates the pulley 28 and through it successively the link 27 bellcrank24 and horizontal rudder 9.

I have shown, and described What-I believe to be the best-embodiment ofmy'inv ention. I do not wish to be limited in patent protection,however, to the embodiment shown, but What I desire to secure by LettersPatent is set forth in the accompanying claims. I V

I claim:

1. In steering mechanism, a plurality of rudder blades mounted to rockintermediate their ends, a plurality of links hingeably I connected, attheir ends to adjacent rudder blades, a control bar hingeably connectedto adjacent rudder blades, and means for sliding said control bar in alongitudinal directionand maintaining the rudder blades 7 other.

2. In steering mechanism, a plurality of rudder blades mounted to rockintermediate their ends, a plurality of links hingeably it connected attheir ends to adjacent rudder blades, a control bar hingeablyconnectedto adjacent rudder blades, an arcua'ting member and a link, saidli'nkbeing hingeably connected to said arcuating member, a

, flexible connection attached to said arcuating member and means foractivating said arcuating member through said flexible connection.

3. In steering mechanlsm, a rudder mounted to rock intermediate itsends, a

bell crank adapted to rock said rudder, an

equalizer bar pivotally mounted intermediatezits ends and adapted to beoperatedby the feet of the operator, and means for rocking the aforesaidbell crank, said means being flexibly connected to and operated from I:said equalizer bar.

. 1 (In testimony WhereofI have aflixed my signature to thisspecification.

' EUGENE VAN NOTE.

